Experienced Preeclampsia

Post On Friday, October 19, 2012 By Gia

I struggled with getting pregnant with our first child.Â We had started trying after I had been on the pill for about 7 years, and finally went off, tried and tried to get pregnant.Â Was referred to the fertility clinic to see as to why I was not getting pregnant.Â Both my husband and I were tested for any infertility concerns, I was not ovulating they were unsure why.Â Therefore we went ahead with having the procedure done for IUI.Â I found out I was pregnant about 3 weeks later via blood test.Â We were thrilled and beyond excited to be expecting.Â As time went on, I was extremely ill throughout my entire pregnancy, never kept anything down, throwing up all day and finishing up my master's degree in Inclusive Education all at the same time.Â My supervisors used to applaud me for looking like death daily and being able to get up there and teach.Â I was a trooper, but did however have a semi breakdown mid pregnancy because of being so sick.Â Â I used to never even make it in the house to throw up, I would throw up in parking lots, the driveway, people's houses, my house, my bedroom, etc.Â It was awful.Â I tried everything from shock bracelets, to medication and nothing worked, seemed to make it worse.Â Â Well at about 37 weeks I went to the doctor for my weekly checkup, that day it was like 90 something degrees out and I felt wonderful! First day in the entire pregnancy I had felt wonderful, my feet were a little swollen but figured it was because of the hot weather.Â Went to the doctor, they called me in, and took my blood pressure first thing.Â They took it twice, they were very concerned it was extremely high!!!! They then brought me into an exam room, and the doctor came in, asked me how I was feeling, any headaches, dizziness, etc.Â I said no I feel fantastic, and just a little swollen.Â Took my blood pressure for a 3rd time, and then the doctor said to me, guess what you have to go to the hospital, I am calling them now to tell them you are on your way, your blood pressure is way too high and you are showing signs of preeclampsia, and we need to induce you.Â I could not believe what I was being told.Â I was in shock that we were going to have a baby in a day or so, when I was not ready at all for this baby to come.Â I had to have my house spring cleaned still, and pack my hospital bag, and just do some minor things.Â Ugh is how I felt at this point.Â I called my husband to tell him what was going on and he was on his way to work, he was shocked as well but I told him to head off to work and that I would talk to him later.Â Well got to the hospital at about 3:30pm, and was admitted around 4:30pm, and then that was it, started medication to lower my blood pressure if possible at all, went on an IV, and started the induction process that evening, everyone could not believe that I was experiencing this and also that the baby was going to be here before we had anticipated.Â The nurses could not believe how high my blood pressure was and that I was showing no signs of having a headache or anything.Â I was still getting sick in the hospital, threw up about 3 times that night, goodness that was awful but it would soon all be over.Â

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Well time went on I did not sleep well at all that night, the next morning they came in and start the pitocin.Â That night went to sleep, woke up at around 1am Friday morning and thought I had wet the bed, I was bed ridden as well, could only pee in a porta potty near the bed.Â Well come to find out my water broke, and then it was time to see where the labor pains, etc. would take me.Â I was on a lot of meds, and also the epidural they kept topping off to keep me comfortable.Â The magnesium I was on was making my muscles very relaxed and therefore now knowing if I was even going to feel myself push.Â Well did not have much pain at all because of the strong epidural.Â Started pushing at about 6:45pm that evening and Sofia arrived into the world at 7:20pm.Â Did I mention that I was about 8 centimeters at 3pm that Friday afternoon, and did not hit 10cm until 6:45pm that evening, yes my parents and family waited patiently in the waiting room thinking that I would have gotten to 10cm quickly.Â Guess not! Sofia came into the world at 7lbs, 19 3/4 inches long, they had to have the NICU doctor's come to examine her because her arms seem pretty limp, come to find out it was the strong dose of magnesium I was on and that she would be okay.Â The hardest part was not being able to be left alone with Sofia because of myself having the preeclampsia and being on the meds that I was, can you imagine being unable to bond with your baby unless you had a 24 hour care nurse there, which I did not.Â

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I had to wait until I went to the recovery floor and I would not be going down there for another day or so, which was very sad to me.Â I was starving which was good I could eat everything without getting sick which was great.Â I loved food that's for sure after not eating for 9 months.Â I finally went to the recovery floor Saturday actually Sunday morning at 12:30, guess what they never brought me dinner because the one nurse thought I ate and the other thought I ate, but I didn't I was so hungry.Â I did find some cereal in the kitchen area for mom's and nurses after getting to the recovery floor.Â Also forget sleeping that's for sure because they were checking my blood pressure every 2 hours, and it was uncomfortable there in the those beds.Â Well the next day I thought that I would be going home possibly or maybe the next day, but no we had to stay until Monday evening, I had been there since Wednesday---you would have thought I had a c-section with that time frame.Â The hardest thing ever though was going home without my daughter that evening.Â She had to stay another day because she had jaundice so therefore she had to say, that was the saddest day of my life.Â But to bring her home the next evening was wonderful.Â I was kept on blood pressure meds and had to see my doctor in a few days after going home, because of how high my blood pressure still was.Â They stated that usually once the baby is delivered that your blood pressure goes down.Â Well guess what, not mine.Â I was going to see the doctor once a week now, and finally after about 3-4 weeks my blood pressure finally settled down a bit.Â I then had the fear of will I have this when I get pregnant again?Â

I have so much more to write about, but this foundation is very dear to my heart.Â I hope to read all of your stories, as I have shared mine.

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